Some fishing techniques come and go. The Double Fluke — better known as the Donkey Rig — isn’t one of them. For years, anglers have used this simple two-bait presentation to fool schooling bass that ignore a single lure. Today, thanks to forward-facing sonar, floating TPE plastics, and better terminal tackle, the Donkey Rig has evolved into one of the most versatile finesse systems you can throw.
At Ebb N Flow Outdoors, we’ve noticed something interesting: our customers aren’t rigging their Donkey Rigs the same way. Some fish two Upgrade Hover Hooks. Others pair one Upgrade Hover Hook with one Upgrade Jighead. Some fish two Upgrade Jigheads. There isn’t one “correct” setup — it all comes down to depth, speed, and the mood of the fish.
Key Takeaways
- A Donkey Rig (Double Fluke) is two soft jerkbaits on one line, imitating two fleeing baitfish — deadly on schooling and suspended bass.
- There’s no single “right” rig: two hover hooks for suspended fish, one hover hook + one jighead for two different actions, or two jigheads for speed and depth.
- Floating TPE / ElaZtech baits hover naturally and last far longer — ideal for dead-stick presentations on forward-facing sonar.
- Dead-sticking works. Let the baits hover, add one small twitch, then pause. Many bites come when you’re not moving the rig at all.
- A substantial belly-weighted bait keeper locks plastics in place — less re-rigging, more productive casts.
What Is a Donkey Rig?
A Donkey Rig is simply two soft jerkbaits tied to one line using a short dropper leader. The presentation imitates:
- Two fleeing baitfish
- A baitfish chasing another
- Small schooling forage
- Injured baitfish trying to stay together
Bass have a hard time ignoring multiple targets — which is exactly why this rig shines around schooling fish.
Why Does the Donkey Rig Work So Well?
Fish naturally compete for food. When two baitfish appear to be escaping together, predators often react without thinking. Instead of deciding whether to eat one lure, they simply attack. That competitive instinct is one of the biggest reasons the Donkey Rig consistently produces reaction bites.
Choosing the Right Setup
One thing we’ve learned after talking with anglers across the country: different situations call for different combinations. Here’s how the three most common setups compare.
| Setup | Action | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Two Upgrade Hover Hooks | Slowest fall, natural hover | Suspended fish that won’t chase; floating TPE/ElaZtech baits; FFS dead-sticking |
| One Hover Hook + One Jighead | Two different actions — one hovers, one falls | The most versatile all-around setup; makes one bait look like it’s chasing the other |
| Two Upgrade Jigheads | Fastest fall, covers water | Deeper water, current, wind, and aggressive, actively feeding schools |
Option 1: Two Upgrade Hover Hooks
This is becoming one of our favorite setups for suspended fish. The benefits: the slowest overall fall rate, an excellent look for forward-facing sonar, a natural hover presentation, great performance with floating TPE and ElaZtech baits, and it keeps fish looking at the baits longer. This setup really shines when fish are suspended and not willing to chase.
Option 2: One Upgrade Hover Hook + One Upgrade Jighead
This may be the most versatile setup we see customers using, because it creates two different actions: one bait hovers while the other falls. That subtle difference often makes one bait appear to be chasing or following the other — a presentation fish simply don’t see very often.
Option 3: Two Upgrade Jigheads
Sometimes fish simply want speed. Traditional jigheads excel when you’re fishing deeper water, covering water faster, fishing current, targeting active schools, or fishing windy conditions. There’s no reason to overcomplicate things when fish are aggressive.
How Floating TPE Plastics Changed Everything
One of the biggest changes in Donkey Rig fishing over the last few years has been the explosion of floating TPE materials like ElaZtech and other thermoplastic elastomers. These baits don’t behave like traditional plastisol soft plastics — they float, they flex differently, and they last dramatically longer. That opens the door to presentations that simply weren’t possible a few years ago.
Many anglers now pair two floating jerkbaits with hover hooks and dead-stick them in front of suspended fish. Instead of constantly working the bait, they let it hover nearly motionless, occasionally giving it a small twitch. Forward-facing sonar has shown just how deadly this can be. Sometimes the less a bait moves, the more convincing it becomes.
Dead-Sticking Is Back
Forward-facing sonar has brought back one of fishing’s oldest techniques: doing nothing. We’ve watched fish swim twenty feet toward a Donkey Rig only to lose interest when anglers work it too aggressively.
Instead, pause. Let the baits hover. Give them one small twitch. Then pause again. Many bites happen while the angler isn’t moving the rig at all.
Why Bait Keepers Matter More Than Ever
This is one area that doesn’t get discussed nearly enough. Many Donkey Rigs are still built using straight-shank hooks with no effective bait keeper; others rely on small wire barbs or glue. That creates several problems:
- Soft plastics slide down the hook after repeated casts.
- Fish short-strike the bait and pull it down.
- Constant re-rigging wastes fishing time.
- Torn baits need replacing far more often.
Our Upgrade Jigheads and Upgrade Hover Hooks use a substantial belly-weighted bait keeper that firmly locks soft plastics in place. That means less time fixing baits and more time making productive casts. It’s a small detail, but after a full day on the water, it makes a huge difference. Shop Upgrade Hover Hooks → | Shop Upgrade Jigheads →
Plastisol vs. TPE: Which Is Better for a Donkey Rig?
Traditional plastisol jerkbaits still catch fish — no question about it. But many anglers are switching to TPE-style materials because they offer several advantages on a Donkey Rig.
| Traditional Plastisol | TPE / ElaZtech |
|---|---|
| Softer initial feel | Floats in the water column |
| Sinks naturally | Extremely durable |
| Tears relatively easily | Better for dead-stick presentations |
| Often slides down the hook after repeated bites | Stays fishable after multiple catches; ideal for hover hooks |
Neither material is “better” — they’re simply different tools. But if you’re constantly replacing torn plastisol baits, floating TPE materials are worth trying.
Where to Fish a Donkey Rig
This technique excels around schooling bass, points, bluff walls, offshore brush, suspended timber, bridges, deep docks, and open-water bait schools. Forward-facing sonar has made it easier than ever to keep both baits in front of actively feeding fish.
What’s the Best Retrieve for a Donkey Rig?
There isn’t one retrieve that works every day. Experiment with a steady retrieve, twitch-pause, long pauses, a fast burn, a full dead-stick, and a slow glide. Let the fish tell you what they want.
Freshwater… and Maybe Saltwater?
Most anglers think of the Donkey Rig as a bass technique — but why stop there? We’ve wondered for a while whether it could be equally effective in saltwater. Speckled trout, striped bass, white bass, hybrid bass, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, and even redfish often feed on small pods of baitfish. Two fleeing baitfish may trigger the same competitive instincts that make the Donkey Rig so effective for largemouth and smallmouth bass.
If you’ve experimented with a Donkey Rig in saltwater, we’d love to hear about it. We’re always interested in seeing anglers push versatile tackle into new fisheries.
Final Thoughts
The Donkey Rig continues to evolve. Forward-facing sonar has changed how we fish it. Floating TPE materials have changed what we fish on it. And versatile terminal tackle has changed how we rig it.
That’s exactly why we designed the Upgrade Series. Whether you’re fishing two Upgrade Hover Hooks, one Upgrade Hover Hook and one Upgrade Jighead, or two Upgrade Jigheads, you can fine-tune your presentation for depth, speed, and fish behavior without changing your entire system.
We didn’t build our products to be one-trick ponies. We built them for anglers who chase bass one weekend, stripers the next, and maybe even saltwater species after that — because the best terminal tackle isn’t limited to one technique. It adapts right alongside the angler. Browse the full Upgrade Series →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Donkey Rig?
A Donkey Rig is a two-soft-plastic setup, usually rigged with jerkbaits or flukes, designed to imitate two fleeing baitfish. It’s especially effective around schooling bass and suspended fish.
What is the best hook for a Double Fluke?
For a slow, hovering presentation, many anglers prefer hover hooks. Traditional jigheads work well when fishing deeper or covering water faster. A combination of one hover hook and one jighead can also create two distinct actions that trigger strikes.
Are floating baits better for a Donkey Rig?
Floating TPE or ElaZtech baits excel for slower presentations because they hover naturally in the water column, making them ideal for suspended fish and forward-facing sonar applications.
Why do my flukes keep sliding down the hook?
Many hooks use small wire barbs or minimal bait keepers that don’t securely hold soft plastics. A larger belly-mounted bait keeper helps lock the bait in place, reducing slippage and extending bait life after multiple fish.
Ready to build your ideal Donkey Rig? Shop the Ebb N Flow Outdoors Upgrade Series →